Spiritual Growth/
Spiritual Fruit

Do you have a reputation for dependability? Or do others think of you as less than trustworthy?
If the latter, how can you address this problem? Simply put: promise cautiously,
deliver studiously. Do not say you “forgot” or make other ...Read More

Presently, the people of God suffer under the rule of ungodly men. Yet, as we have read today, one day this will all be reversed. We must, therefore, wait patiently for this day, working to help spread the good news ...Read More

Take some time this day to perform some self-assessment. Do you think that you are more deserving of God’s favor than other people? Repent if you have so thought. Also, if you have believed the Lord cannot use you ...Read More

Being conformed to the image of Christ does not happen quickly. There is no secret formula for victory over the flesh or a second blessing that creates instant maturity. One of the most important means for growing to maturity is ...Read More

The fruit of light listed in today’s passage — goodness, righteousness, and
truth — are examples of what Paul elsewhere refers to as the fruit of the
Spirit (Gal. 5:22–24). These things, along with qualities including love, joy,
patience ...Read More

The New Testament not only commands us to be joyful, but it tells us how. Basically, we can be
joyful by focusing our attention on the source of our joy. If you find yourself depressed, down,
afflicted focus your mind ...Read More

No single Christian has every gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1–11). However, this is not true of the fruit. All of us must be growing in our expression of each. Take some time to look at ...Read More

Scripture is clear that sinless perfection is impossible in this life (1 John 1:8–9),
so we will never exhibit any of the fruit of the Spirit flawlessly on this side of
glory. Nevertheless, there is a difference between ...Read More

John Calvin offers these comments on today’s passage: “We, who have so
frequently and so grievously offended, have nevertheless been received into
favor, so we should manifest the same kindness towards our neighbors, by
forgiving whatever offenses they have ...Read More

Though we are all responsible to evaluate our teachers by the fruit of their teaching and lives, it does not necessarily follow that this evaluation is solely an individual responsibility. In fact, we need other Christians who are grounded in ...Read More

Matthew Henry comments on today’s passage, “Those who are not fruitful to the glory of God’s grace will be fuel to the fire of his wrath.” We are not counted as righteous before the Lord because of our service ...Read More

One of the reasons that discipline is so difficult to endure sometimes is that we cannot see the future. We cannot see the good that God will produce in us as a result of today’s discipline. Yet we are ...Read More

John Calvin writes, “Before we are in [Christ], we are dry and useless wood.”
After we are united to Him through faith alone, however, we become living,
fruitful branches. The doctrine of justification by faith alone frees us to do ...Read More

The love commended in Galatians 5:22–23 is also the greatest apologetic for the Christian faith (John 13:35) and is defined by the character of God, who loves us both when He commends our obedience and when He ...Read More